Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Norfolk & Waveney Integrated Care Board
County Hall, Martineau Ln
Norwich
NR1 2DH
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH15 - Norwich and East Norfolk
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.improvinglivesnw.org.uk/about-us/our-nhs-integrated-care-board-icb/icb-contact/
Buyer's address
https://www.improvinglivesnw.org.uk/about-us/our-nhs-integrated-care-board-icb/icb-contact/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Termination of Pregnancy Service NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB
Reference number
NW2024-72 (C298776)
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB sought expressions of interest for the provision of a Termination of Pregnancy Service.
The aim of this service was to ensure that all women and people who are pregnant in Norfolk and Waveney have access to evidence-based, quality abortion advice and care in line with existing national guidance.
Core aims:
• To improving access
• To minimising waiting times with no unnecessary delay
• To give choice of procedure & location
• To ensuring privacy and convenience
• To reducing stigma
• To following evidence-based pathways that deliver safe and effective care
Patients can expect that:
All providers must be registered by the relevant independent healthcare regulators (CQC in England, HIW in Wales) and are accountable to them for delivery of care to Fundamental Standards (CQC) and Health and Care Standards (HIW).
Providers must ensure patients can receive the full range of services and must not “cherry-pick” cases so as to undermine local services. Where a provider does not provide a particular service within an ICS / Health Board area, the patient must be informed that they may need to travel to access this type of care and about all the alternative choices available locally.
Providers should act collaboratively to ensure care pathways are seamless, and always put the patient’s interests first by directing them to services that best fit their needs.
The proposed contract is for a period of 3 years with the option to extend for an additional 2 years. The anticipated contract value is circa £1,800,000 per annum.
To apply for this opportunity provider were asked to register via the Atamis e-sourcing portal https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome. Project
C298776
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £8,998,790
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH1 - East Anglia
Main site or place of performance
Norfolk and Waveney
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.
This service was tendered for a Provider to offer a full range of abortion services, either themselves or in collaboration with other providers.
The pathway will include provision of:
• Direct access to the service via self-referral, without need for medical referral. Patients should not have any restrictions in their choice of provider and can opt for a service that is not the most local (e.g. to access lower waiting times, choice owing to a past good or poor experience, to receive care in a different location.
• Assessment by phone or video call or face-to-face according to preference, and treatment in a range of settings including in the community and through no-test telemedicine abortion where appropriate. If patients prefer a face-to face assessment, this should be available locally.
• Medical or surgical abortion up to 24 weeks’ gestation.
• For early medical abortion, to have the option of expulsion at home.
• Surgical abortion available at all gestations up to 24 weeks, with availability of local anaesthesia and conscious sedation.
• These choices should be available to all patient groups, including young people (i.e. under 18 and those aged under 25 in local authority care).
• Not all choices will be available at all locations, and travel may be necessary to access more complex care options (e.g. later gestation, general anaesthesia)
• Assessment within 1 week of the request
• Provide the abortion within 1 week of the assessment for women who decide to go ahead with an abortion.
• Gynaecology care, with more complex care (e.g. later gestations or co-morbidities) will be delivered by regional or, in the most complex cases, national centres.
This is an existing service and the proposed award is to the existing provider, having undertaken a Competitive process, in line with PSR requirements.
The proposed contract is for a period of 3 years with the option to extend for an additional 2 years.
The anticipated annual contract value is circa £1,800.000 per annum
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality and Innovation / Weighting: 37%
Quality criterion - Name: Integration, Collaboration & Service Sustainability / Weighting: 20%
Quality criterion - Name: Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating Choice / Weighting: 13%
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 10%
Cost criterion - Name: Value / Weighting: 20%
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Option to extend for an additional 2 years.
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2024/S 000-025114
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
1 October 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
British Pregnancy Advisory Service
Orion House, 2 Athena Drive, Tachbrook Park, , West Midlands,
Lemington Spa
CV34 6RQ
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKG33 - Coventry
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £8,998,790
Lowest offer: £5,399,274 / Highest offer: £8,998,790 taken into consideration
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.
The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by [Add date].
This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.’
If you have wish to make a written representation regarding this intention to award notice please contact nwicb.enquiries@nhs.net.
The intention to award decision was made by the ICB Steering Group 1st October 2024.
There were no declared conflicts identified during in relation to this process.
The Key Criteria weighting for this services was as follows:
Quality & Innovation - 37%
Value - 20%
Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability - 20%
Improving Access, Reducing - 13%
Social Value - 10%
The rationale for awarding to the preferred provider was that they have passed all pass/fail questions in the basic selection questionnaire and ranked as the highest scoring provider based on their overall Key Criteria score within this Provider Selection Process.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS England
7&8 Wellington Place
Leeds
LS1 4AP
Country
United Kingdom